Valerie Diamond is chair of the Global Equity Services Group at Baker & McKenzie’s San Francisco office. She has over 14 years of experience counseling multinationals on tax, securities, exchange controls and compliance issues arising from the offer of equity compensation programs to employees around the globe. Ms. Diamond is a member of the steering committee of Baker & McKenzie’s Compensation, Employment and Employee Benefits Group.

Ms. Diamond was named one of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal’s “Top 75 Women Corporate and Transactional Lawyers” for 2011. She is ranked in Chambers 2010 which noted that clients “praise her for her knowledge and ability to balance the technical aspects with risk analysis.” Ms. Diamond is the 2008 recipient of the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals’ Individual Achievement Award, and is a member of the Certified Equity Professionals Institute’s Advisory Board and its Technical Oversight Board.

Practice Focus

Ms. Diamond assists multinational companies in the design and implementation of employee stock plans. She also advises clients on the tax, securities law and exchange control compliance issues that arise when options, restricted stock or purchase rights are granted to employees, directors and consultants. Ms. Diamond’s clients include companies in the high tech, energy, medical technology, pharmaceutical industries — most of which are located in the Silicon Valley.

Representative Legal Matters

• Advised high-tech Silicon Valley company with regard to all filings and tax disclosures for an underwater option exchange offered to employees in 35 countries.
• Advised high-tech Silicon Valley company on obtaining approval from the China State Administration of Foreign Exchange for equity plan offering in the PRC, the preparation and filing of a prospectus in France in compliance with the EU Prospectus Directive and an underwater option exchange.
• Provided advice and completed all tax and regulatory filings for the conversion of outstanding employee equity awards granted by a global healthcare company in connection with its reincorporation in Ireland from Bermuda.
• Assisted solar technology company in designing and rolling out an employee stock purchase plan in 5 countries.
• Advised a Japanese multinational company on all employee option grants made by company to employees in 35 countries.
• Provided counseling and prepared grant materials for Silicon Valley company offering restricted stock units and performance units to employees in 65 countries.
• Represented clients in meeting international compliance obligations relating to the repricing of options, the creation of data privacy waivers, the grant of stock options to expatriates and the issuance of restricted stock.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• National Association of Stock Plan Professionals
• Global Equity Organization
• Bar Association of San Francisco
• Chambers Ranked
• Certified Equity Professionals - Advisory Board

Admission

U.S. District Court, Northern District of California~United States (1993)
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit~United States (1993)
California~United States (1993)

Education

University of San Francisco School of Law  (J.D. magna cum laude) (1993)
California State University  (Master of Art) (1989)
California State University  (B.A. Honors) (1985)